April10 2013 Issue

Follow us online: eastfieldnews.com facebook.com/pages/TheEtCetera/ twitter.com/TheEtCetera

Volume 44, Issue 10

Eastfield College

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

‘It doesn’t seem fair’

Eastfield family mourns loss of Vazquez siblings

By Danyelle Roquemore etc4640@dcccd.edu

Photo courtesy of zab estrada

Alex Vazquez poses with Lizbeth Estrada, the mother of his best friend Zab, on his 18th birthday.

Alex Vazquez’s smile could light up a room. His friends found him funny, even a little goofy at times.

His professors at Eastfield were impressed with the 18-year-old’s work ethic, believing it would carry him far in life.

On March 13, the college community was rocked by the news that Alex, his 21-year-old sister Paulina and their parents had been killed in an apparent triple murder-suicide at their home on Paintbrush Street in Mesquite. Police believe their mother, Angelica Vazquez, shot the children and her husband before committing suicide.

“It’s weird how [things like this happen to] people who are doing everything right in life,” said Eastfield student Holly Hester, a friend of Alex’s since they were freshmen at Mesquite High School. “It doesn’t seem fair.”

The teens’ impact on the community was evident at a candlelight vigil for the family on March 13, when more than 100 flames lit up the night at Barnes Bridge.

The vigil was organized by Alex’s best friend, Zab Estrada.

“He had so many friends,” Hester said.

“No one could say anything bad about him because he was so nice. If someone would have taken the time to get to know him, they would have wanted to be his friend.”

News of the shooting spread throughout the campus on March 14, leaving students and faculty shocked.

Speech professor Courtney Brazile, who taught both Alex and Paulina, struggled to process the news that afternoon.

“Looking back on it, I’ve never seen anything that would make me think that there were any personal issues going on,” Brazile said. “They seemed like two normal college students.”

The news was even more difficult to understand for Alex’s close friends.

“I started crying for over an hour and couldn’t stop,” Hester said. “I was going through pictures, and it was making it

worse. I didn’t believe it. It was crazy.”

Alex was in his second semester at Eastfield. Paulina also attended Eastfield before transferring to UNT. She was home for Spring Break at the time of the shooting.

Brazile said the siblings were both exceptional students.

“If there was one student I knew I was going to see every day, it was Alex,” he said. “Although he wasn’t one that had a lot to say, his commitment to being on time communicated a lot about him and how much he cared about his education and his future.”

President Jean Conway sent out a campus-wide email on March 15 stating that the college was grieving over the deaths of the siblings.

“They both had many friends at Eastfield,” she said. “This tragic event reminds us once again of the fragility of life and the importance of holding our family and friends close.”

Away from school, Hester said Alex was generous and would do anything for his friends.

“He was positive all the time and was always happy,” she said. “When he came in the room, you would get in a good mood. He was so funny and his smile was contagious. Even his laugh made me laugh because it was so goofy.”

She said Alex’s friends still tweet at him on Twitter and tag him in w posts.

“I still tweet at him sometimes [saying things like] ‘I miss you,’” Hester said.

Alex spent much of his free time with the Impulse Car Club. Members of the club attended the candlelight vigil and posted a statement on their Facebook page about the tragedy: “Today we lost a friend, but not just a friend. [Alex] was family of Impulse, a brother to everyone. But not just him; his sister, mom and dad also. Thanks to everybody who went to the candlelight ceremony and showed love and support. This has been a big tragedy to everyone. Now they are in a better place. R.I.P., Vazquez family. Gone but never forgotten.”

See VAZQUEZ, page 2 ➤

2

NEWS

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Put it on YOUr

Calendar April Wed

A spring fling will offer food and games from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in the lower courtyard.

Thu

“How to Beat Time for the Exit Exam” will feature writing professor Caitlin Stanford from 11 a.m.-12:20 p.m. in L-208.

Sat

A garage sale will be held by student clubs at Poteet High in Mesquite from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. There will be another garage sale in the Eastfield parking lot near N building on the Motley side from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Tue

“NoodleBIB: MLA, APA Citing Sources” featuring librarian Judy Wayne will be held in two similar sessions. The first will be from 12:35-1:35 p.m. in L-208 and 5:35-6:35 p.m. in L208.

10 11 13

16 Wed

A flower sale hosted by the communication club will be held from 10 a.m.3 p.m. in the Pit.

Thu

A preview of the spring musical “Hairspray” will be held at noon in the performance hall. Regular performances will be held April 18-20 at 8 p.m. and April 21 at 2 p.m.

17

18

A student talent show will be held by SGA from 12:30-2:30 p.m. in C-135.

Fri

An SGA voting ballot will be sent to students via email. Recipients may vote until April 24.

Sat

“Dia de la Familia” will offer information on higher education and public service from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Pleasant Grove campus. Refreshments will be served.

19 20 Tue

“Steps to Increasing Your College Vocabulary” featuring writing professor John Garcia will be held from 11 a.m.-12:20 p.m. in L-208.

Thu

“Inside Accuplacer: MATH Edition” featuring dean of college readiness and mathematics Ricardo Rodriguez will be held from 12:30-1:50 p.m. in L-208.

23 25

www.eastfieldnews.com

The Et Cetera

Student fires 15 rounds at motorist

By Keturah Jones etc4640@dcccd.edu

An Eastfield student has been suspended from the criminal justice program due to a road-rage incident in which he allegedly fired 15 shots into the car of another motorist.

Leonard C. Young was arrested on March 25 and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after one of the bullets from his 40-caliber handgun struck Marcus Scott in the back of the head.

Scott was taken to Baylor University Medical Center, where he was scheduled to undergo surgery.

Mesquite Police Sgt. Brian Parrish said that on March 25 at about 1 a.m., Scott called the Mesquite Police Department to say he was following what he thought was a drunk driver on I-30 West near I-635.

“He was all over the road. He was going to hurt somebody,” Scott said in an interview with CBS 11.

According to police reports, Scott had been following Young’s vehicle while on the phone giving the 911 operator Young’s license plate number. After exiting I-635 at Town East Boulevard, Young pulled over, exited his car with a gun in his hand and proceeded to open fire.

In an interview with Leonard WFAA, Young said he shot Christopher at Scott because he feared for Young his life.

“I felt like he was trying to hurt me, so I fired my weapon a couple of times, to my knowledge,” Young said.

Young called 911 after the incident and was in-

structed to drive to the police station to turn himself in. Upon arriving, police found no indication that he was intoxicated, according to the CBS report.

Parrish advised that people shouldn’t put themselves at risk if they find themselves in a similar situation.

“Call the police department,” he said. “Don’t get involved. Don’t make contact with the individual.

Let the police do that. If those guidelines had been followed in this situation, we may not have had this tragic incident.

Eastfield Criminal Justice Program Coordinator Patrick Patterson said he hopes his students will learn from this incident.

“Use your best judgment while you are going through the police academy,” he said. “Try not to put yourself in situations where you have to use that type of force. In the end, it’s your career on the line. It’s all about making the right decisions.”

Competition held NEWS Briefs to select new logo

Board of trustees begins search for new chancellor

By Ginny Morris etc4640@dcccd.edu

The search for a new Eastfield Harvester’s logo is underway. Copyright issues forced the college to discontinue using its previous logo last year.

Last week, Director of Student Life Judy Schwartz hosted the first meeting of a committee of students, staff and faculty that will help select a new logo.

At the first meeting, the committee chose words to describe what they thought the Harvester symbol should represent.

“Responsible,” “determined,” “passionate” and “swag” were some of the concepts they decided the new logo should incorporate.

However, the committee won’t play the primary part in actually creating the new logo.

“We’re going to have a contest,” Schwartz said. “Anyone can enter it.

It can be a crude drawing, or it can be a professional, graphically designed image. We want students, staff, professionals [or anyone else who is interested] to submit images. Then we’re going to use this committee to narrow them all down.”

Once the committee has chosen a few finalists, the remaining images will be posted on a website where all students and college employees can

vote for their favorite.

The deadline for art submissions will be near the end of April so that the new logo can be selected by the end of the semester.

Gerald Kozlowski, executive dean of Career Technologies and a member of the logo committee, said that he believes it is important for the school to have a consistent logo just like four-year universities.

“I’ve been with the college on and off since 1971, and there’s never been any consistency,” Kozlowski said.

“The mascot has changed. If you look at almost every school in the country, they’ve got a real, identifiable mascot.

It just never happened here.”

Once the new logo has been chosen, Schwartz said the college will order a mascot costume. Students will be trained to wear it so they can appear at school events.

If all goes according to plan, the new logo will be in place by the time students return for the fall semester.

Sergio Temblador, a member of the student House of Representatives who is also serving on the committee said he is excited about having a new mascot.

“I love the school, and I feel like we need an image,” he said. “We don’t need just the EFC logo. We need a picture of what we are. I think a logo improves the students’ pride.”

The Dallas County Community College board of trustees held a meeting on April 1 to discuss its upcoming national search for a new chancellor. The board decided on several key points to help them work toward appointing the next chancellor by Dec. 31. These included selecting an external search firm for assistance, seeking public input, creating a timeline to ensure they meet their deadline and drafting a profile for the next chancellor.

According to a district news release, trustees will draft the chancellor’s profile but won’t finalize the profile until the general public has the opportunity to provide feedback at a public hearing at the end of the regular May meeting. Once the search firm is chosen and public input has been considered, the national search will be advertised and the committee will begin interviewing candidates.

Dr. Wright Lassiter stated at the March monthly board meeting that he is willing to serve beyond the end of the year, if need be, until the search committee finds a new chancellor.

— Danyelle Roquemore

Vazquez tragedy leaves friends, loved ones stunned Continued from Page 1 Friends and family members have had a difficult time accepting the police’s finding that the teens’ mother was responsible for the shootings.

The motive is still undetermined.

Hester said she didn’t appreciate the negative comments about Angelica Vazquez that have been posted on many news websites.

“They shouldn’t look at it that way,” Hester said. “[They’re] never going to know [the reason] why.”

Just as loved ones mourn the loss

of the Vazquez family, Brazile is saddened that his students’ lives were cut short.

“I’m very glad I was able to have both of these students,” he said.

“They were both really good students with a bright future.”

Brazile said he hopes others can learn from Alex’s approach to life.

“His life has been a glowing, public statement,” he said. “We really do see through moments like these that life truly is short, but in his short life of 18 years, I believe that he has made an impact.”

NEWS

3

The Et Cetera

www.eastfieldnews.com

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Women speak through ‘Her Body, Her Words’

By Danyelle Roquemore etc4640@dcccd.edu

Women have traditionally been overshadowed in the arts, whether it’s the way female characters are portrayed or the lack of famous female playwrights and authors.

In honor of Women’s History Month, faculty and staff from the Arts, Language and Literature division performed “Her Body, Her Words,” which included pieces written and performed by women.

The show, which took place on March 12, included two readings, a monologue, a video, a scene from a play and a live song and dance.

Courtney Carter Harbour, associate dean of Arts, Language and Literature and co-chair of the Women’s History Month Committee credited theater professor Dusty Reasons for her perspective on how to visually and technically execute the performance.

Reasons planned the order of the pieces, the placement of the performers and the lighting.

“I think the program flowed beautifully and a lot of that had to do with Dusty’s insight in terms of where to place each performance or reading,” Carter Harbour said. “She was really smart about the program and how she put it together.”

Though the performance was not planned around a specific theme, English professor Elizabeth Huston noticed an underlying theme in most of the of the show’s pieces.

“She made the connection that [most] of our pieces were dealing with men to some degree,” Carter Harbour said. “[Most of the pieces] spoke about men and the relationships that women have with men. Even the [excerpt from] ‘Maxims of Marriage’ may be an extension of that and examines the male and female relationships and the roles that women play.”

The performance began with a scene from Lorraine Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the Sun,” featuring English professors Larissa Pierce and Selena Stew-

History professor Kat Cloer opened her Women’s History Month lecture by asking the audience what they thought feminism looked like.

The feedback was far from positive.

Bra burning, man hating and power hungry were among the responses.

In an attempt to clear up these stereotypes of feminists, Cloer explained how the movement started during her talk on March 27.

She broke down the feminism movement into three waves.

The first wave was took place during the 1920s when the woman’s suffrage movement fought for the right to vote.

“We should always remember the ratification of the 19th Amendment,” Cloer said. “Those women paved the way to where we are in women’s rights today.”

Calendar April Mon

15

New York Times bestselling author Kathleen Kent will speak from 10:1011:05 a.m. in G-101.

Writers Patricia Falvey and Peggy Brown will also speak from 11:15 a.m.12:10 p.m. in G-101.

A vocal concert will be held from 12:30-1:50 p.m. in F-117.

Tue

16 Odessa Leeper/The Et cetera

From left, Selena Stewart-Alexander, Courtney Carter Harbour and Larissa Pierce perform a scene from “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansbury.

art-Alexander along with Carter Harbour. The scene demonstrated the complexities of the three women and their relationships with each other and the men in their lives.

The performance was followed by a video entitled “Cadillac,” the only part of the event that wasn’t live. The video was shot and edited by Danielle Georgiou, head of the dance department.

Georgiou said the video is unique because of the perspective of the camera.

“I’m holding the camera in my stomach, and I’m dancing with her,” Georgiou said. “[The audience] is getting a really personal view because the camera is dancing with the dancer.”

It features dancer, Lauren Douglas, in a parking garage near a few Cadillacs.

English professors Betsy Joseph and Huston both performed readings for the event. Joseph read Sharon Olds’ “Cambridge Elegy,” while Huston read excerpts from Jane Austen’s “Pride and Preju-

dice” and Helen Fielding’s “Bridget Jones’ Diary.”

Carter Harbour’s favorite part of the program was the song and dance combo with Reasons performing a cover of Adele’s “Someone Like You” with Georgiou as the dancer.

“It was very powerful and heartfelt to have one singer and one dancer that were synchronized in their interpretation of the song,” Carter Harbour said. “It was really beautiful to watch and listen to.

[It was] very powerful.”

The finale was a monologue by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason entitled “They Shoot Fat Women, Don’t They?” Technical theatre producer Lori Honeycutt performed the monologue, which addressed self-image and what others think of women based on how they look physically.

Pierce, who also co-chairs the committee, said she is hoping to see the event grow in the future.

“I would definitely like more student participation,” she said.

Feminist movement turns into humanist movement

By Sidney Murillo etc4640@dcccd.edu

Literary & Fine Arts

The second wave came during the ’60s and ’70s and was punctuated by Helen Reddy’s “I am Woman” anthem.

Cloer believes that the idea of feminism shouldn’t only be for women. Being a feminist is generally being a humanist, she said.

Odessa Leeper/The Et cetera Students in the au- Professor Kat Cloer dience said they took talks about the history a lot away from the of the feminist movement. lecture.

“Feminism is important because it’s important for women, and people in general, to stand up for themselves,” business major Juan Carlos Ruvalcaba said. “People need to realize that all humans have rights.”

Third-wave feminism happened during the ’90s, when women began to take on traditionally male-dominated jobs. It became common for a woman to be the CEO of company and write her own paychecks.

Many women also began to marry later in life, or not at all.

Although Cloer said there were three waves in the feminist movement, she believes that a new fourth wave of feminism is occurring now because of what some are calling a war on women.

“We have women attacked for their sexuality,” she said. “Women are called sluts and whores.”

This fourth wave of feminism is also bringing awareness to the increasing violence against women around the world.

“I was never really aware of feminism,” education major Ever Rodriguez said. “I’m glad I came to this seminar. I come from a family of women, and I’m happy to see that we live in a time where they can be free to choose what they want in life.”

Writer Dallie Clark will speak from 9:30-10:50 p.m. in G-101.

A documentary by Robert Camina will be shown from 11 a.m.-12:20 p.m. in G-101.

Eastfield staff will read selected works from 12:301:50 p.m. in G-101.

“Jazz Under the Stars” will feature the EFC Jazz Ensemble from 5:35-7 p.m. in the lower courtyard.

Wed

17

Artist and curator Janeli Englestad will speak from 9:05-10 a.m. in G-101.

Writer Juli McCullagh will speak from 11:15 a.m.12:10 p.m. in G-101.

Readings of works from the student literary competition will be performed from 10:10 -11:05 a.m. in G-101.

The “So Fresh Juried” Student Art Exhibition reception will be held from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. in Gallery 219.

Thu

18

Writers Joani Reese, Jen Knox and Meg Tuite will speak from 11 a.m.-12:20 p.m. in G-101. Comic book writer David Hopkins will also present a workshop from 12:30-1:50 p.m. in G-101.

A student poetry slam will be hosted by The Et Cetera from 5:35-7 p.m. in G-101.

Fri

Author Anne Fields will speak from 9:05-10 a.m. in G-101. Author Pam Boyd will speak from 10:1011:05 a.m. in G-101.

Sat

The “Temporary Occupants” art exhibit reception will be held from 6-9 p.m. in the lower courtyard.

19 20

4

NEWS

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

www.eastfieldnews.com

The Et Cetera

“A&M-COMMERCE HAS MADE ME MORE OPEN-MINDED. THE REGENTS SCHOLARS PROGRAM HAS ALLOWED ME

TO SEE JUST HOW MANY

OPPORTUNITIES

WERE LINGERING BEFORE ME.” MICHELLE EJIMAKOR

Michelle talks about how A&M-Commerce is preparing her for the world at:

WWW.TAMUC.EDU • 888.868.2682

A Member of The Texas A&M University System

NEWS

5

The Et Cetera

www.eastfieldnews.com

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Getting students psyched about science

Club donates lab coats to local first-graders

By Sidney Murillo etc4640@dcccd.edu

The bitter stench of vinegar and baking soda fill the first-grade halls of Thompson Elementary.

Children murmur and squeal as the Eastfield Science Club members carry in boxes of beakers, liquids and vinegar. The club makes regular visits to the school to lead simple experiments that get young students excited about science.

On this visit, the club also donated child-sized lab coats to 84 first-graders with the hope of inspiring the young children to pursue a career in science when they become older.

Science professor Dr. Carl Knight, who is also the Science Club adviser, believes all students can benefit from being exposed to the wonders of science.

“What we found out with the National Science Foundation is that girls are becoming less interested

in science,” he said. “So the goal of this event was to show that it is a possibility for everyone to become a scientist.”

The lab coats were purchased

by Knight and the logos were sewn on by Mark Mark’s, a logo stitching company that is owned by the cousin of Science Club member and biology major Yvette Gonzalez.

The total cost of the coats plus the logos rounded up to be $184. “[The Science Club] has been working on this project since the summer,” Gonzalez said. “The amount of work is crazy, but it was worth it in the end.”

It was important for everyone to contribute a small part to this project, Knight said.

Teachers at Thompson Elementary have been talking to their students about all things science for months.

The children were excited about the Science Club coming to visit them and conducting experiments with them.

The first experiment was a volcano experiment. A few nervous children came up to volunteer.

The Science Club members helped the first-graders produce each volcano.

Sidney Murillo/The Et cetera

Science Club treasurer Kemji Odo helps first-graders Taylor Bunch and Chinado Odum with an experiment involving a corked bottle filled with vinegar and baking soda. The mixture sent the cork flying across the room.

The result of all this was a new appreciation for science.

“I really like science,” first grader Chinadu Odum said. “I want to be a scientist because I want to explode things.”

The elementary school teachers who helped organize the event agree that the event had a positive effect on the students.

“When we do experiments here, we will get the lab coats out, and

the kids will be so excited and yell, ‘He’s a scientist,” first-grade teacher Shannon Woodington said. “It lets them know that they can be scientists. It lets them open their minds to be anything they want to be.”

New GSA club offers support, acceptance for LGBT students

By Claudia Guerra etc4640@dcccd.edu

Ana Chavez was a high school sophomore in San Antonio when she and her group of friends first experienced the pain of being bullied by their classmates.

Chavez and her friends were no different than any other clique at their school, except for one thing: They were attracted to people of the same sex.

Classmates began isolating Chavez’s small group of friends.

Suddenly, they were the kids no one wanted to talk to.

Chavez said she lost one good friend because her friend’s boyfriend didn’t like them talking.

“He would tell her ‘I don’t want you to get too close to them because you might end up with them,’” Chavez recalled. “It’s like he was unsure about himself.”

The constant ridicule from others became too much. Soon, Chavez’s friends began to transfer to other

schools or drop out.

With most of her friends gone, Chavez joined the Gay-Straight Alliance club at her high school. She found comfort in a club where everyone around her could relate to each other on some level with her.

After high school, Chavez moved to Dallas and began attending Eastfield. She was shocked to find out the campus didn’t have a GSA club.

Then, in the fall of 2012, Chavez met Cecilia Mendoza.

Mendoza wanted to start a GSA club at Eastfield, and she asked English professors Amber Pagel and Kassandra Buck to advise the club. The group suffered an early setback, but the club became official this semester.

“We tried last semester as far as getting it going, but they started too

late,” Pagel said. “So they reorganized, got some new members and officers, and got it rolling this semester.”

The new GSA president, Josh Martinez, said the club is more than just a social opportunity for students.

It’s a place were they can go to find guidance and support.

“Obviously, it’s Gay-Straight Alliance, but we don’t focus on the gay,” Martinez said. “The purpose of the club is to promote safety on and around campus.”

Chavez wants students to see GSA as a place where friendships can develop and grow and where they can feel safe and accepted.

“The club itself is to show people, ‘Hey, it’s a comfortable [environment], and everyone around you has the same problem,’” Chavez said. “I want to make everyone feel comfortable and to give them a better feel of GSA. We are here to help anyone out with any situation.”

Buck said the enthusiasm of club members has been fantastic.

More than 20 students attended

the first meeting, and many came with ideas that are going to be put into action this semester.

The club will participate in a Love of the Lake service-learning project on April 13. The group will meet at Another Broken Egg Café for breakfast at 8 a.m. before they head to White Rock Lake at 9 a.m.

The club has also invited North

Texas regional GSA representative and activist A.J. Guerrero to speak to the club.

The GSA club meets every other Wednesday. The next club meeting will be April 10 at 2:30 p.m. in C-142.

Students interested in joining the club can go by the Student Life office or email club president Josh Martinez at joshy2011@gmail.com.

6

NEWS

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

www.eastfieldnews.com

The Et Cetera

‘Queen of the Court’ celebrates women’s sports

PHOTOS BY Justin Yanger/The Et cetera

On Saturday, the college held its first “Queen of the Court” event where students, staff and faculty faced off in celebration of women in sports. At left, Associate Dean Courtney Carter Harbour of the Arts, Language and Literature division attempts to block a student’s shot. Above, Associate Dean Judith Dumont of College Readiness and Mathematics returns the ball as drama professor Dusty Reasons and English professor Kassi Buck look on.

N A T I O N A L U N I V E R S I T Y®

THE NEXT DEGREE OF YOU

EARN YOUR DEGREE WITH A LEADER IN ONLINE EDUCATION •

Discover the benefits of a nonprofit university

•

Explore the wide range of online associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees

•

Talk with an advisor to create a personalized education plan

•

Experience the flexibility of taking an online class

•

Learn about financial aid options and scholarships

Learn more at the National University Online Information Center in Dallas

214.360.3150

www.nu.edu

© 2013 National University 12263

NATIONAL UNIvERsITY 8132 Park LaNe DaLLas, TX 75231

7 The Et Cetera

www.eastfieldnews.com

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Older students overcome challenges

By Kametra Nickerson-Loud etc4640@dcccd.edu

Janette Cobb never had a childhood. It was stolen from her by the people she trusted most.

Her uncle began molesting her at the tender age of 3 years old. Then she was raped by another family member at age 12.

Cobb never told anyone about either incident until she was 13.

She was afraid, confused and felt alone. Desperately needing something to ease her pain, Cobb began stealing alcohol from her stepfather and getting drugs from a neighborhood friend.

“I started doing drugs when I was 12 years old,” she said. “[I used] methamphetamine, acid, speed, cocaine, marijuana, a lot of alcohol.”

She dropped out of high school in the ninth grade. After getting her GED, she tried attending college but gave it up. She worked a variety of jobs, but could never keep one.

She dreamed of returning to college one day and helping others, but her drug and alcohol addictions held her back for 28 years.

Now, at age 40, Cobb is one of many older Eastfield students who have decided to return to college and give education a second chance.

“The addictions that I had were so heavy,” she said. “They’re a dark cloud, a vicious cycle. You name it and I [tried] it.”

Cobb became pregnant with her first child at age 17 and had two more children by 25. Even as she raised her children — now ages 15, 17 and 23 — she continued to abuse drugs.

She explained that when someone is an addict, it only gets worse until the addict takes control of his or her own life.

Cobb said she went to multiple rehabilitation centers from 1999 to 2002, but she could not stay clean.

She even checked into rehab centers with her children.

“I didn’t know what else to do,” she said. “Without knowledge, people perish. That’s how I was.”

During those years, Cobb said her children’s father began calling Child Protective Services about her addic-

Odessa Leeper/The Et cetera

From left, Surinder Kaur Sudan, Janette Cobb and Tammy Walcher are all women who chose to improve themselves through education.

tions. After speaking with the agency, she admitted to them that she had a problem and needed help.

Eventually, she decided to give her mother full custody of her children.

“Those were my babies,” Cobb said. “It was very hard.”

In March 2002, shortly after giving up her children, Cobb finally stop using drugs after watching a Christian program on TV. The message she heard changed her life forever.

“I was 30 years old,” she said. “It was 2 o’clock in the morning. They asked me to invite Jesus into my life, and I did it. [It] totally transformed [me] into a new person.”

Cobb has been clean since that day. Now she wants to better herself and do what she was called to do.

“God changed my life,” she said.

I want to help people the way God helped me — through my addictions.”

Ken Griffis, the pastor at Cobb’s current church, recalls his first impression of her when she began attending services back in 2000.

“She would come and visit

[church] on occasion, but she wasn’t interested in spiritual things,” he said.

“Her life was kind of about herself and what she enjoyed doing.”

Griffis said Cobb’s life is dramatically different today.

“She is now content,” he said. “She has become a good mother, and she is able to contribute to the ministry.”

Once her life was back on track, Cobb said her family told her she should return to school and become what she always wanted to be.

She returned to college in 2010 with plans to become a licensed chemical dependency counselor.

Finally, she believes her dreams are coming true.

“I love [college],” Cobb said. “It is wonderful to come and learn, and finally do what I was supposed to do a long time ago. Every day I wake up, I’m excited.”

Cobb is proud of herself and believes she can finally be a role model for her children.

“My kids need to know that no matter how old you are, you can start all over again,” Cobb said.

Fellow Eastfield student Surinder Kaur Sudan’s rebirth began when she turned 50. Feeling that she had missed out on what life had to offer, she decided to pursue an associates degree in science.

“I just want to restart everything again,” she said.

Kaur Sudan was born and raised in India, where she held a variety of sales jobs at local retail stores.

While visiting family in Canada, she decided to move to Dallas. She knew no one in the city but simply wanted a change.

After moving, she decided to enroll at Eastfield and then move on to a university in hopes of becoming a pharmacist.

She admits that the return to college has been a challenge. She had to start from the beginning with developmental courses, but she now knows her weaknesses.

“If I feel I cannot keep up with the studies, I go to the learning centers [to be tutored],” Sudan said.

Kaur Sudan believes the decision to return to college was the right one.

“After five years I will be satisfied with what I am doing,” she predicts.

“I feel myself on the top. I know I am going to be a happy person.”

Psychology major Tammy Walcher said she returned to college at age 54 not only because she wanted a career change, but also because she wanted to impact her family.

“I wanted to be a good role model for my grandchildren as well as my children,” she said.

Previously, Walcher worked in a doctor’s office. After graduating next year, she wants to begin a new career in social work.

“I’ve always had really, really good jobs,” she said. “It’s just about enriching my life.”

Whether it was family, finances, addictions or other issues that prevented them from earning their college degrees when they were younger, these older women have discovered that it’s never too late to pursue their dreams.

“No matter how old you are — 40, 50, 60 years old — do what God has called you to do,” Cobb said.

8

LIFE & ARTS

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

www.eastfieldnews.com

The Et Cetera

‘Hairspray’ cast ready for opening night

By Anjulie Van Sickle etc4640@dcccd.edu

The college’s theater, music and dance departments are coming together for the first time in the upcoming performance of the musical “Hairspray.”

The cast advises the audience to expect to see fabulous singers, excellent dancers, a variety of comedy and spontaneously funny moments when the musical premieres April 18.

The show will run through April 21.

Set in Baltimore in the early 1960s, “Hairspray” explores such serious topics as racism and body-image issues.

“I’m really excited to do this musical,” director Dusty Reasons said. “It’s different than anything we’ve ever done. It’s a comedy, but it deals with the serious subject matter of segregation, civil rights and teenage hormones — a little bit of everything.”

Reasons said the audience should be prepared for a more mature subject matter than a typical “fluff ” musical. The performance doesn’t sugar coat any of the issues addressed.

Reasons added that she has enjoyed working with such a diverse cast.

“The students are all intermingling,” she said. “We have dance students who have never done a theater show before who are meeting the theater students and getting accustomed to

working within a theatrical production. It’s the same with the music students and the theater students learning more about music and learning more about dance.”

The musical’s message has helped some members of the cast be more accepting of others’ differences.

“The biggest thing the audience has to learn is to accept other people who are different and to try and find beauty within the person,” said Kenneth Fulenwider, who plays Edna. “Also, just to let go of the differences, because we are all human beings. We’re all the same and deserve love.”

With three-hour practices every day, the cast members said preparing for the show has been exhausting, but worth it.

Musical theater major Sophia Ramirez said there’s more to producing a play than simply performing a part.

“If you want it to come out good, you have to put in the work,” she said. “There’s a lot of background work that goes on that most people don’t know about.”

In addition to the voice and dance lessons, Reasons said there is a lot of work behind the scenes to ensure that the production is spectacular.

Cast members have all worked on building and painting the set as well as running lighting.

“I’ve learned how to work on my singing

odessa leeper/The Et cetera

Kenneth Fulenwider, left, and Sam Galindo, rehearse a scene from the musical.

skills, my social skills and my dancing skills,” ensemble member Paul Schlachtner said.

Many of the cast members have become friends with people they wouldn’t have had the opportunity to meet had they not participated in the musical.

“A production teaches you how to work with all kinds of people,” assistant stage manager Lindsay Stewart said. “Even if you don’t like some people or the way they approach certain

situations, you learn how to work together and do what you need to do.”

After much hard work, practice and determination, the cast is ready for its first performance.

The shows on Thursday, Friday and Saturday will start at 8 p.m. The Sunday show is a 2 p.m. matinee.

Adult tickets are $15. Student and children’s tickets are $10.

GREATNESS is... connecting people with the arts.

Combining my studies in communications and music will allow me to pursue my dream of promoting opera to future generations. At UNT, career counseling helped me find the right fit and secure internships that are preparing me for my future career.

— olmar vanegas,

transfer student studying public relations

you’re invited to take a transfer tour

unt.edu/begreat | 940 -565 - 4104

AA/EOE/ADA

© 2013 UNT

LIFE & ARTS

9

The Et Cetera

www.eastfieldnews.com

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

See what’s brewin’ locally Looking for a good coffee shop where you can get away from the corporate coffee atmosphere?

Here are five diverse DFW coffee houses that provide a place where you can kick up your feet and relax with a cup of Joe. Each location is unique in its own way, offering room to study, hold meetings or hang out with friends.

Murray Street Coffee Shop 103 Murray St.

Dallas 75226 www.murraystreetcoffee.com

If a cute, lofty place to hang out and have a good cup of coffee is what you’re looking for, Murray Street Coffee Shop is the place to be.

Located in Deep Ellum, this coffee shop offers the urban feel you would expect to find downtown while still maintaining a sense of warmth.

With a nice, peaceful atmosphere and good music, it’s perfect for any kind of meeting. There are comfy chairs for a casual catch-up with a friend, and there is also a long table for business meetings upstairs in the loft area. The staff will welcome you in like family and happily bring your order to you. There is Wi-Fi available, but you will need to ask one of the employees for the password. This is an excellent study spot due to the soft music and the general lack of chatter.

What to order: Try a mug filled with a mocha latte topped with their

homemade whipped cream alongside a cream cheese danish.

Havana Cafe

1152 N. Buckner Blvd.

Dallas 75218 www.havanacafedallas.com

As soon as you walk in this quaint café, you will see a large Cuban flag hanging on the left wall. You can feel the Cuban culture radiate from the warm greetings you receive from the owners. The brightly colored turquoise walls are friendly and inviting. Mentally drained after a long day of exams? Set up a date with yourself and enjoy a fourth meal with a slice of flan drizzled in bittersweet chocolate with a side of Matilda’s Favorite, a $3 espresso with a shot of coconut syrup and brown sugar. After visiting Havana Café, you will be filled with caffeine and sugar and will be ready to run a marathon of errands. Or a marathon in general.

What to order: A Cuban sandwich with a carajilla a la Cubano, an espresso with a shot of rum and flavored with brown sugar.

Crumbzz Tasting

Pavilion

212 S. Bois D’Arc St. Forney 75126 www.crumbzz.com

Located in downtown Forney, Crumbzz Tasting Pavilion offers coffee lovers an intimate place to sip some java with friends or even grab

a bite while studying. The bistro pays homage to local artists by hosting art shows that display their work and list the sale price. The café features a menu with breakfast and lunch options as well as their Crumbzz cakes.

There are tables set for three to chat with friends or for a study session.

There is also a bar where customers can sit and watch the baristas create their drinks or snacks. It is a great place to study, meet up with friends or spend a little time reading and relaxing. The atmosphere is welcoming, and the music isn’t too loud.

What to order: Try a vanilla latte with whipped cream and a cinnamon streusel Crumbzz cake.

Pearl Cup Coffee

1900 N. Henderson Ave. Dallas 75206 www.pearlcupcoffee.com

This coffee shop runs along the hip side of Dallas. You know you have arrived once you see the pea green wall that invites you to sit on the patio. Inside, you will find drink and food choices written in chalk on a blackboard along the wall, metal chairs that look like that they were bought from the clearance section of IKEA and people surfing the web on laptops. Make sure to order the turkey panini off the favorites menu.

These sandwiches feature melted provolone cheese, hot turkey, pesto and pine nuts in between two slices of pressed panini bread. Order the famous Pearl latte on your first visit, second visit and third visit. It’s that

Sidney Murillo/The Et cetera

For a bird’s eye view of White Rock Coffee, go upstairs and sit on the balcony while you sip on a white mocha latte.

good. It’s a light coffee that’s not too sweet.

What to order: An iced coffee is a perfect way to start your morning cool as the weather warms up.

White Rock Coffee

10105 E. Northwest Highway Dallas 75238 www.wrcoffee.com

White Rock Coffee is a laid-back place where you don’t need to rock a coffee house bohemian look to fit in.

Simple, blue and white and friendly, this coffee shop provides a variety

of coffee, pastries and special noncoffee blends. A warm and milky white mocha with a fresh plain bagel with cream cheese spread is a great after-class snack. The second floor features an indoor balcony that looks over part of the cafe.

What to order: Call a couple of friends to catch up their “20-below” hot chocolate, a cold chocolate drink that has the consistency of a Starbucks frappuccino.

— Compiled by Sidney Murillo, Anjulie VanSickle and Danyelle Roquemore

‘Pop some tags,’ spruce up your wardrobe at thrift shop

By Sidney Murillo etc4640@dcccd.edu

It’s no coincidence that the song “Thrift Shop” by Macklemore and DJ Lewis is topping the charts in the alternative rock, hip-hop, R&B and top 40 categories.

Not only is the beat catchy, but the tongue-in-cheek flows by Macklemore are somewhat relatable. The line where the MC mocks someone “spending $50 on a T-shirt” is funny, but it also makes us reflect on how frugal we really are.

My favorite thrift shop is Lake June Thrift in Balch Springs. This shop is about the size of a small neighborhood Wal-Mart market. It

THE

Hidden Gem Lake June Thrift 9024 Lake June Road Dallas 75217‎ (214) 398-5257

has a home décor display to the right, shoes, juniors and men’s wear in the center aisles and women’s wear, linens and accessories to the left.

I’ve spent many Sunday afternoons either searching through books, lurking around the shoe area or rummaging for gently used spring dresses at this thrift stop.

During my visits to Lake June

Thrift, I’ve found many like-new, name brand items. My most proud finds are: a periwinkle Ann Taylor button-up blouse, a black Banana Republic pencil skirt and a pair of Betsy Johnson boots with leather fringe on the side.

The most expensive item of those three was the skirt, which was $14.

The same skirt online sells for $80.

Belts, scarves, shoes and purses are half price every Sunday. The employees are friendly, and if you befriend them, they sometimes give you discounts.

I’ve enjoyed thrifting since I can remember. My mom would take me to the thrift store to shop because, well, to put it bluntly, we didn’t have

Sidney Murillo/The Et cetera

Find accessories like this easy-tie embroidered belt with metal dragon buckle for as low as $2.50.

the money to shop at Gap or Macy’s.

Thrift stops can offer an abundance of relics and off-beat fashion items. They can help give a vintage

feel to your wardrobe.

Look hard enough and you can actually reinvent your entire style with one visit.

10 The Et Cetera

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Anjulie Van Sickle

Award-winning member of: • Texas Intercollegiate Press Association • Associated Collegiate Press • Texas Community College Journalism Association

Eastfield College 3737 Motley Drive Mesquite, TX 75150 Phone: 972-860-7130 Fax: 972-860-7646 Email: etc4640@dcccd.edu

People should listen more and talk less

Editor In Chief Danyelle Roquemore Managing Editor Anjulie Van Sickle Opinion Editor Caitlin Piper Life & Arts Editor Sidney Murillo Sports Editor Kevin Cushingberry Jr. Photo Editor Odessa Leeper Online/Social Media Editor Miguel Padilla Copy Editor Enrique Morales Staff Writers Chanel Jimenez Keturah Jones Ginny Morris Taylor Wallace Photographers Ana Nunez Raul Carrington Justin Yanger Cartoonists Joelle Goosen Jonathan Wences

Graphics & Layout Chadney Cantrell Alex Kennedy Contributors Claudia Guerra Kametra Nickerson-Loud Student Publications Manager Lori Dann Faculty Adviser Caitlin Stanford Editorial Policy The views expressed on the opinion pages and other opinion pieces and cartoons in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of The Et Cetera, Eastfield College or the Dallas County Community College District.

Letters to the Editor Letters must be typed, signed and include a phone number. Letters will be edited for profanity and vulgarity, Associated Press style, grammar, libel and space when needed.

The content will remain that of the author.

Letters must be 250 words or fewer. Letters may be delivered to Room N-240 or emailed to etc4640@dcccd.edu First Amendment Right Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Alex kennedy/The Et cetera

OUR VIEW

Life is precious, so make the most of the time you have YOLO — You Only Live Once. Those words seem to be plastered on every Twitter and Facebook page these days. The meaning is obvious: you should do whatever you can to live life to the fullest, because no one lives forever.

But too often people abuse the term, cheapening its worthwhile message by using it as an excuse to do whatever they please, regardless of the consequences.

Life is precious. No one, young or old, is guaranteed to live another day.

As we learned during the recent Vazquez family tragedy, young people are not invincible. Life is too short to be taken for granted.

Too many people fool themselves into believing they will live beyond their twilight years. They rarely give consideration to what is going on in the world around them because they are too caught up with planning their lives to notice their surroundings. Life tends to pass them by because they fail to pay attention to what’s happening at that moment.

Living life to the fullest isn’t the same as pulling a stupid stunt or choosing to eat an extra slice of cake.

It doesn’t mean you should rush through life making spur-of-the-moment decisions and doing impulsive things you will regret later. Consider doing something worthwhile.

Go to college. Earn a degree.

Learn another language.

Travel the world and experience history.

There’s so much we can do with our lives if we only tried.

Regardless of age, we all have a chance to start anew, to make worthwhile decisions and improve ourselves through our actions.

None of us are immortal. No one can be certain they will live to see another day.

That doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy what we have.

So think of what it truly means to only live once.

Do you really want to squander what little time you have on decisions that could potentially shorten it?

As I watch and listen to the young lady holding her Bible, screaming at the top of her lungs about fire, brimstone and hell, I am rather ashamed. I’m ashamed because I, too, profess the same faith as she does.

But unlike her, I am not as hot-tempered.

As she preached, more people came to observe. One person in particular did not like what she said or how she presented her views. They started arguing, getting in each other’s face.

There was no winner in this shouting match. If anything, both the speaker and the audience member were even more turned off by each other’s beliefs.

I am not in any way passive, but I still believe in having level-headed conversations with people.

When advocating a cause, it’s essential to listen to the other party’s viewpoints and not just simply talk. If the other person is expected to listen, you have to listen, too. It’s a two-way street.

Listening is even more important than speaking. When a person listens to you, you feel important. You feel as if they really are seeing you as a person who has a brain, who has ideas, and not just someone they believe is completely wrong because they don’t agree with you.

Also, if you want to have an intelligent conversation with someone, it will not be accomplished by shoving your beliefs down their throats.

The entire point of a debate is to exchange opinions. If this process is anything other than civil, then a negative light is going to be cast upon both parties’ claims.

Of course, that’s not saying you should back down from your own beliefs. Stay firmly grounded. However, there still needs to be a level of civility involved.

Respect must be given in order for it to be received.

Take a second and listen to something other than the sound of your own voice.

Opinion

11

The Et Cetera

www.eastfieldnews.com

Today’s movie ratings aren’t appropriate for audiences I love Stephen Chbosky’s “The Perks of Being a Wallflower.”

It was my coming-of-age novel, realistically portraying parallels to my high school years.

The book was written for a mature audience. However, a film adaptation of the novel was released last October with a PG-13 rating due to violence, nudity, sensuality, language and other adult themes.

I recently watched the film with my entire household, including my parents and three siblings, the youngest of whom is 11.

I felt extremely uncomfortable watching it, even though I thought I knew what to expect.

However, I did not believe so much of the novel’s content would be included in a PG-13 movie. It’s one thing to read about a situation.

It is entirely different to view it. The fact that my siblings watched it worried and terrified me.

I do not want them to have the idea that the film’s presentation of high school is what those years are like for everyone, especially since my

Taylor Wallace

youngest sister starts her freshman year this fall.

Although I find that censorship blinds readers and viewers, I also think youth shouldn’t be exposed to so much graphic material.

After the credits rolled, I compared what PG-13 content consisted of during my pre-teen years to what it is now. I found that more vulgar language and nudity are allowed in this rating category today than when I was growing up.

When I was 13, “Superbad” was given an R-rating for “pervasive, crude and sexual content, strong language, drinking, some drug use and a fantasy/comic violent image — all involving teens,” according to the Motion Picture Association of

America’s guidelines.

The 2012 adaptation of “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” earned itself a rating of PG-13 for the “appeal for mature thematic material, drug and alcohol use, sexual content including references, and a fight — all involving teens.”

The same content was present for two different ratings by the same association.

Yes, there are truths in both the novel and movie about the darker side of the high school experience.

However, those features should not be so explicitly displayed without highlighting its positive facets, such as establishing life-long friendships, figuring out who you want to become and, above all, the great memories you will reflect on years from now.

The restricted content of R-rated movies is finding its way into what will presumably be acceptable to younger audiences in the future.

More realistic ratings would keep this explicit material from slipping through the cracks.

People need to be aware of the news

I recently watched a segment on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” where an interviewer asked people on the street, “What do you think of President Obama’s decision to pardon the sequester and send it to Portugal?”

The question purposely made no sense, but some people who apparently didn’t know about sequestration answered with confidence.

“I’m so grateful, because Portugal should be protected at all costs,” one woman replied. “They have a constitutional right, and it should be protected. That’s what our president is for.”

If this woman is any indication of how well people follow current events, our country is in trouble.

Living in a democracy that has more freedoms than any other country in history comes with a responsibility to be politically aware.

Citizens are expected to participate in the democratic process by electing and influencing their representatives.

If citizens are clueless about what is happening in their country, or the

Ginny Morris

world in general, they can’t make good judgments about whom to elect, or which policy to support.

When people don’t take the time to find out what’s going on, they can become detached from the whole political system. This can lead to voter apathy.

The problem with that approach is that a democracy is supposed to reflect the views of all its citizens. If its citizens won’t voice their opinions by voting, the democracy starts to deteriorate.

I’m not saying everyone needs to spend hours every day following all the latest political developments.

We’re in college. We all have papers to write, presentations to give, jobs

to hold down and maybe even kids to raise.

We don’t have a lot of time to sit down and watch every news story.

But keeping up with the news is vitally important. The events of today are shaping the environment we’ll be entering after college.

The world isn’t going to stop and wait for us to finish school. We have to pay attention now or we’ll struggle to catch up later.

Even little things like listening to the news on the radio on your way to work, scanning headlines on the web or watching a newscast before you go to bed can keep you up to date with the world.

You don’t have to be an expert on current events, but having a general knowledge of what’s happening is critical. If you don’t even know what’s going on, you can’t complain about or try to influence decisions our leaders make.

If you neglect your power to be informed, you are forfeiting your power to make a positive change in the world.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Negative words can become negative actions Many people can identify with different verses from the Bible, regardless of whether or not they are religious.

In the book of Proverbs there is a verse that says, “Death and Life are in the power of the tongue.”

This verse reminds me of the many trials I have faced in life that would have had a better outcome had I spoken my words in a positive way.

When I returned to college last spring, I thought and spoke about my return in a negative manner from the beginning.

Being a full-time student, maintaining a career and being a mother at the same time was overwhelming.

“I’m so tired. I can’t work and go to school. I should just quit,” I said.

I would complain to family, friends, co-workers or anyone who would listen.

Eventually, I became too tired to go to work and couldn’t complete my class assignments in a timely manner.

One day I was speaking with an older friend who has had plenty of life experience. She offered me some advice based on the saying “I am what I say I am.” She told me that what a person is focused on, whether good or bad, will eventually become their reality.

My negative words had manifested and become my negative actions.

Once I thought about what she said, I realized it was true.

I began to analyze my situation and realized it wasn’t overwhelming at all.

It’s not as if my professors didn’t give me a syllabus and prepare me for what was required. Other students around me were taking

Let your voice

Kametra NickersonLoud

just as many courses, and some had two or three children as well as a full-time job, but they didn’t seem overwhelmed.

I only have one child and was working just two days a week, and that was on the weekend. I had plenty of time during the week to complete my assignments, study and take care of my daughter.

But it wasn’t enough to think it.

I needed to change my vocabulary and speak it.

I began to heed my friend’s advice, and my situation changed for the better. After that, when I was asked about my return to college, I spoke in a positive way.

I began to enjoy school. I told myself: “My courses are becoming easier because I have balance now.” I was not overwhelmed anymore.

I was also productive at work, and I made the time to study and complete my course work on time.

Most of us don’t think about what we’re really saying when we speak about things going on in our life.

We all owe it to ourselves to speak about our lives positively, no matter what the situation.

I have decided that I will not speak words that hinder me, only words that will build me up.

Once a person begins to speak positively, then positive actions will follow. And those positive actions will produce positive results.

like us on

be heard facebook Send a letter to the editor to etc4640@dcccd.edu or bring it by room N-240

Letters must be typed, signed and include a phone number.

Letters will be edited for length, profanity and vulgarity, Associated Press style, grammar and libel when needed. Letters must be 250 words or fewer.

Like The Et Cetera and Eastfield College Student Publications

follow us on

twitter @TheEtCetera

ON DECK AT EASTFIELD April 12 April 13 April 15 April 19 April 20

Baseball vs. Cedar Valley Baseball Vs. Cedar Valley Baseball Vs. Texas Wesleyan Baseball vs. Mountain View Baseball Vs. Mountain View

The Et Cetera

2 p.m.

Noon 2 p.m.

2 p.m.

Noon

12

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Harvesters’ heads held high

Eastfield hoops team finishes second in the nation

By Kevin Cushingberry Jr. etc4640@dcccd.edu

They abandoned their charter bus and stepped into unfamiliar territory. They were far away from home, and the atmosphere was as unwelcoming as the New York snow.

Hours later, the Eastfield Harvesters took on the Brookdale Jersey Blues in the NJCAA Division III championship game.

Eastfield’s best wasn’t enough as the Harvesters fell to the Jersey Blues by six points, 61-55.

Following the second-place finish on March 16, coach Anthony Fletcher said he would remember this season forever. He said the players would too, after the sting of defeat fades.

“This is the best team I’ve ever coached at Eastfield,” he said. “Some guys coach 60 years and never get a chance to play for a national championship. They gave me that this year.”

Fletcher called the game a heavyweight fight and said he was proud of the fortitude his team showed. After leading by two at halftime, the Harvesters fell behind by double digits following a second-half run from Brookdale, which was led by guard David Rosado’s 15 points.

The Harvesters fought back to cut the deficit to six points within the final minute, but that was as close as they got. After failing to convert on several three-point opportunities, the game was over.

“We lost by six points,” Fletcher said. “Two baskets. We made it to the national championship. Only two teams in the country can say that. Nobody can take that away from us. Years from now, [the players] will be talking to their kids about the time they competed for a national championship.”

Freshman forward Andrew Maxie said the championship game was the culmination of a magical season where everything came together at the right time for the Harvesters.

“It’s crazy how things work out,” he said.

“Semar [Farris] came back, Mike [Love] transferred from Kansas Wesleyan, me and [David] Bonner came from Odessa and Tweet [Oscar Lewis] transferred from Panola on the first day of school. Who would have thought this time last year we would all be competing on the same team for the national championship?”

The Eastfield players were awarded medals acknowledging their second-place finish. Forward Mike Love was also named a member of the all-tournament team after averaging 18 points in the team’s three Elite Eight games.

Love had a huge impact on the Harvesters’

Odessa Leeper/The Et cetera

Players join President Jean Conway, Dean Gretchen Riehl and coach Anthony Fletcher in celebrating Eastfield’s best season in 16 years.

first-round victory over Caldwell Community and Technical College of North Carolina. He scored 31 points and nailed the game-winning three-pointer with .9 seconds left in overtime to give the Harvesters a 101-99 victory.

“It felt good to close it out,” Love said. “I thought Brock [Hunter] was going to take the shot, but he swung the ball to me, and I knew I had to make it.”

Hunter did take the shot in the Harvesters’ semifinal game against MassBay. In fact, he demanded it. He scored 27 points and added 12 rebounds to lead the Harvesters to a 26-point

victory, 91-65.

“We usually start out slow,” Hunter said. “I just had to demand the ball. We had to win, so I just demanded the ball early.”

In the championship game, Eastfield shot just 36.7 percent from the field and went 2-for15 on three-point attempts. Hunter said officiating affected the team’s play.

“We weren’t focused on the game,” he said.

“We were more focused on the refs. Before the game they told the captains they were going to let us play. Then, on our first possession on defense, I got called for a petty foul.”

Eastfield didn’t shoot a single free throw in the first half. The Harvesters finished the game 9-of-13 from the free-throw line. Brookdale was 16-of-30.

“I don’t want to make any excuses,” Hunter said. “Shots just weren’t falling.”

Despite the loss, Hunter said he still views the season as a success.

“It’s destiny that we made it to the championship,” he said. “Mike hit that three for us to win on Day 1. If he misses that, we’re playing in the losers bracket. But he made it, and we were right there in the championship.”

Sports

13

The Et Cetera

www.eastfieldnews.com

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

TOURNAMENT RECAP

Kevin Cushingberry Jr./The Et cetera

Eastfield takes on New York

Game 1 Eastfield 101, Caldwell 98 Sophomore forward Mike Love scored 31 points and nailed the game-winning three-pointer with .9 seconds left in overtime to give the Harvesters a 101-98 victory.

The Harvesters rallied from a 12-point first half deficit to win their opening game at the NJCAA Division III national tournament in Loch Sheldrake, N.Y. Love, his teammates and his coaches replayed the shot over and over again in their minds. He earned a new nickname, “Money” Mike Love.

Game 2 Eastfield 91, MassBay 65 Sophomore guard Brock Hunter scored 27 points and added 12 rebounds to help the Harvesters defeat MassBay Community College 91-65.

Hunter was on fire, shooting 11-of-13 from the field and going 4-for-4 on three-point attempts.

The Eastfield Harvesters spent six days in New York on what they’d like to call a business trip. The team experienced its share of ups and downs before finishing as national runners-up at the NJCAA Division III Elite Eight.

At top, Brookdale celebrates winning the national championship against Eastfield. At right, the Harvesters tour Times Square in New York City.

At bottom left, Mike Love celebrates his game-winning shot in the first round against Caldwell. At bottom center, Eastfield fans cheer on their team prior to the championship game.

At bottom right, sophomore guard Semar Farris was named a first-team All-American. Farris averaged 15 points, 5 assists and 4.4 steals this season and set the career steals record.

Kevin Cushingberry Jr./The Et cetera

Game 3 Brookdale 61, Eastfield 55 Brookdale forward Joe Nickerson scored 21 points and added seven rebounds on his way to being named tournament MVP and leading the Jersey Blues to the national title.

Eastfield (26-4, 10-2 in Region V) was ranked No. 5 in the final national poll. Brookdale (30-1, 18-0 in the Region XIX) was ranked No. 1.

The Harvesters, led by Semar Farris’ 13 points, were held to their lowest scoring total of the season. Their output was 41 points below their season average.

COURTESY OF JOSHUA SHOCKEY

Kevin Cushingberry Jr./The Et cetera

Kevin Cushingberry Jr./The Et cetera

Odessa Leeper./The Et cetera

Sports

14

The Et Cetera

www.eastfieldnews.com

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

PLAYER DIARY: ANDREW MAXIE

Storybook season’s final chapter is bittersweet The Et Cetera asked freshman forward Andrew Maxie to keep a diary during the Harvesters’ trip to New York for the NJCAA Division III national championship tournament.

o’ clock practice. We were not feeling that at all, but when duty calls you have to answer!

We were playing Caldwell College, who defeated last year’s national champion in their regional tournament. The game was the best of the year. We went into the half down nine.

We fought back in the second half and took a 10-point lead with two minutes left. Due to struggles at the free-throw line, we went into OT. In OT, it was a dog fight, and it ended with Mike “Money” Love hitting a game-winning three that had us celebrating like we already won the tournament.

Later that night, we got a surprising knock on the door from room service. Oscar Lewis’ dad had ordered us room service. We had wings, nachos, hamburgers, chicken fingers and chicken sandwiches.

Day 1: New York bound At 5 a.m., my teammate David (Bonner) woke me up with pure excitement. About 20 minutes later, Brock (Hunter) knocked on the door singing. It was time to head to the school, so we had to wake up Semar (Farris), who sleeps every chance he gets. Everybody was hyped for the trip, and some were scared because of the flight. I sat next to LaDaniel on the plane. He said his heart was beating like a pit bull was chasing him. The flight had him extra nervous, and I found that too funny!

Big day tomorrow. It’s our last practice, and the formal banquet is tomorrow night. I’m looking forward to getting spiffy.

Day 2: Turning up the intensity At breakfast, we happened to be in the dining hall at the same time as another tournament team, MassBay College from Massachusetts.

This was our first time actually being in the same room as our opponents, and the tension was high. My teammate David Ozigbo actually is from Boston, 10 minutes from the school, and they previously wanted him to play on their team, so we had a nice laugh about that.

Our practice was scheduled for 11 a.m., but they moved our practice time an hour earlier so we missed our time slot. Then it was back to the hotel for a little down time before the banquet.

Some took naps and watched Redbox movies, but the party was in Semar’s room; he brought “NBA 2K13” on Playstation 3.

Coach (Anthony Fletcher) had a meeting

Raul Carrington/The Et cetera

with the tournament officials at 5, so we got dressed and headed up there. Everybody was sharp, so we took like a million pictures to put on Instagram and Twitter. Coach Fletcher won District 3 Coach of the Year, and that was the moment of the banquet.

Day 3: Love is ‘Money’ Today was the big day. It was finally game time! We had the early game, which was at noon, so we had to wake up super early for an 8

Day 4: Another victory In the locker room before the semifinals today, we used an old pirate saying: “Burn the boat.” The pirates used to burn their boat when they saw another boat they were trying to hijack. Burning their boat meant that they had no choice but to go take the other crew’s boat because theirs is no longer there. It’s a kill or get killed mentality. To sum it all up, we burned our boat and took theirs. One more win and we are the national champions.

Day 5: Championship Saturday This was the day we had been dreaming of since we got together this summer! This is what we have worked for all season. All the blood, sweat, tears; everything came down to this one day! We couldn’t wait to take the floor.

We gathered in the locker room before the game for our usual motivational speech from

the coaches. It didn’t take much this time, though. We were already motivated to bring the title back to Texas.

We took the floor for warmups and our cheering section cheered loudly. They supported us the whole week, and we couldn’t let them down. Unfortunately, we came up short, losing the game 61-55. It was a heartbreaker.

The whistle just rarely seemed to be in our favor. We ended up shooting zero free throws in the first half to their nine. Despite the difference we still were up two at halftime. But the difference in the fouls ended up taking a toll in the second half. We cried together, hugged each other and let everybody know that this season was not a failure. We had made lifelong bonds.

I’ve never been on a team that was so close. We are like brothers, and I wanted them to know I love them despite the outcome.

We had a little award ceremony, receiving our medals, plaque and national championship ball. Mike “Money” Love got selected to the all-tournament team. It was his biggest achievement of the year, but I know he would have traded it for that ring. We went back to the hotel and talked about the game over dinner, then everybody called it a night. It had been a long season, and it’s over.

Day 6: The road home It was our last day in New York. We drove through Harlem, the Bronx, Washington Heights and Manhattan. The bus driver also took us to Times Square. We got off the bus for a little shopping and a lot of pictures. This was going to be a great memory. We had a blast.

Our trip was coming to an end. Our story book season was over, and Monday we start preparing for next season.

2012-13 Harvesters cement their place in Eastfield history It a great journey for the Eastfield Harvesters this season. They started off with a dream, worked hard and gave everything they had to make that dream come true.

Last off-season, the Harvesters spent endless days in the gym shooting and lifting weights together. They even hung out away from school, playing PlayStation 3 and during their “kickbacks.” That’s when the whispers started: “Think we could make it to New York?”

The summer workouts translated into success on the court. The Harvesters won 26 of their first 28 games, including a stretch of 17 consecutive

Kevin Cushingberry Jr.

wins from Dec. 5 to Feb. 13 when all five starters averaged double figures in scoring. Their willingness to trade individual accolades for wins resulted in the most successful season at Eastfield since 1997.

Little things made the difference this season. Things like LaDaniel Marshall, who won a state champion-

ship at West Oso in Corpus Christi, averaging only five minutes per game but not complaining, knowing his time would come.

There were no divas and no drama, just hoopers.

The team won its first nine games in conference play and claimed the Metro Athletic Conference championship for the second time under coach Anthony Fletcher.

However, there were challenges: After clinching the No. 1 seed in the Region V tournament, the Harvesters had their streak snapped by Richland in the last game of the regular season.

They lost again five days later against

Mountain View in the second round of the region tournament, but had a shot at a championship rematch because of their regular-season title.

With the season on the line, Eastfield was able to avenge the Mountain View loss and clinch a berth in the national championship tournament.

The obstacles the team was able to overcome with its backs against the wall would prove to be valuable experience in New York.

In the first round of the Elite Eight, Mike Love scored a seasonhigh 31 points, 20 over his average.

It’s not that Love wasn’t capable of posting high numbers throughout

the season. He was just playing his role. And he wasn’t alone.

It seemed like Brock Hunter came up big in every meaningful moment.

When the Harvesters needed a play, he made it happen. Semar Farris, Andrew Maxie and sixth-man Demarcus Metcalf were often the beneficiaries of Hunter’s team-first mentality, which had a trickle-down effect.

Teamwork led Eastfield to New York. Even though they came up short, they left feeling like they were the best team in the country. They didn’t win the title, but these players should be remembered as arguably the best to put on Eastfield uniforms.

15 The Et Cetera

www.eastfield.com

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Jonathan’s World By Jonathan Wences

It Could Be Worse By Joelle Goosen

‘Disconnect’ explores technology’s dark side

By Caitlin Piper etc4640@dcccd.edu

Director and documentarian Henry Alex Rubin’s first foray into fiction illustrates the impact of technology on four groups of people in a series of semi-connected storylines.

Although the subject of our society’s growing reliance on technology has been explored many, many times before, “Disconnect” manages to stand up on its own with strong, sympathetic characters and genuine suspense. It is not immune to the occasional misstep, however.

“Disconnect” moves between the four storylines with fluidity and grace, allowing a glimpse into each group’s lives for only a few minutes at a time.

The film opens with an online chat between Nina Dunham, a TV reporter played by Andrea Riseborough, and Kyle (Max Thieriot,) a young high school dropout who makes a living by performing sex acts in front of a webcam.

Hoping to tell the world his story, Nina requests to interview Kyle anonymously, which both frightens and intrigues him.

Meanwhile, 20-something Cindy Hull (Paula Patton) chats

with a friend she has never met face-to-face on a grief support site. She and her husband, a former Marine named Derek (Alexander Skarsgård), have grown distant since the death of their infant son, though the causes left is never explained to the audience.

Having lost his wife years ago to cancer, her online friend is the only one she feels she can open up to.

When the Hulls learn that their identity has been stolen online, they turn to Mike Dickson (Frank Grillo) for help.

Mike, a widower and former detective, has a strained relationship with his teenage son Jason (Colin Ford.)

Bitter and lonely, Jason enjoys causing trouble, and decides to pose as a girl on Facebook in order to play a prank on his introverted and friendless classmate, Ben (Jonah Bobo).

Ben’s family is quite attached to technology.

Ben composes and arranges music with the help of his computer and likes to hide behind a pair of headphones.

Both he and his older sister are almost never seen without their cell phones. Their father,

Rich (Jason Bateman) is an attorney working for Nina’s TV station, and he is usually seen talking on his cell phone.

Their family is torn apart when Jason’s prank goes too far, sending Rich on a search to find out what happened to his son.

Despite consistently strong performances and a genuinely suspenseful final act, “Disconnect” is not without its problems.

The film sacrifices effective social commentary for a series of mere cautionary tales, and while they are handled well, there are certain parts that may be a little difficult for viewers to swallow, such as the Hulls’ decision to track down their identity thief themselves when they

decide the police are taking too long.

Rather than show how our society’s reliance on technology is slowly causing us to drift apart, “Disconnect” chooses to define the Internet age by online identity theft, pornography and cyber-bullying, and has themes more suited to an afterschool special than the hardhitting social commentary it is trying to be.

But for what it is, “Disconnect” is wonderfully executed and capable of drawing genuine emotion from viewers.

The characters are extremely likeable and, for the most part, their actions are overall believable.

Though its message is certainly nothing that hasn’t been said before, it is executed well enough for it to be worth seeing at least once.

16

The Et Cetera

Register today Just go to www.twu.edu and click on:

TWU

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

TRANSFER CONNECTION

I N F O R M AT I O N S E S S I O N or call 1-866-809-6130